The Officer and the Southerner (Historical Western Romance) (Fort Gibson Officers Series, Book 2) by Rose Gordon Page B

of the men had but didn’t want to investigate.
    “ Yes,” he said quietly. “I saw Dark Moon.”
    Jack nodded. That was all he needed to know. Not that he could do anything about it. Venturing into the Indian Territory was so dangerous it was unheard of.  The Indians, he’d learned, had a special way of doing things: their way or no way. Upset with the United States government and all who were connected to it for forcing them here, they had no qualms or remorse for acting unkind. When they wanted to be friendly, they’d come to the fort to trade or even schedule dances to show peace between them. But, that was on their terms. A soldier didn’t dare go into their land without an invitation or at the very least without some sort of warning—and even then he’d better have a good reason, such as the monthly visits they were required to make. And that was just dealing with the chief. Dark Moon was undeniably his own man.
    A legend in these parts. Not because his medicines had cured so many, but because he was thought to be a raving madman. The rumors they’d heard were that even his tribe didn’t keep company with him. He lived off by himself, mixing potions and herbs, then came around the fort every so often trying to sell them to the soldiers. The problem was, nobody knew what ailment he was trying to sell a cure for. He knew not a word of English. He just shouted at them in his native tongue while he thrust abysmal smelling tonics in their faces.
    Jack filled his pail at the well and walked back to his room. Dark Moon was not a viable solution to Ella’s problem.
    “Jack, I need to speak to you.”
    Jack turned from where he was unlocking the door to his room to find a very unhappy looking Colonel Lewis. “Sir?”
    “Where were you today?”
    Jack’s fingers tightened around the handle of his pail. “I was tending to my wife today,” he said evasively.
    “I don’t remember approving your request for time off to spend with your new bride,” Colonel Lewis said sternly.
    “ No, sir.” He held the man’s gaze.  How much did he dare divulge to Colonel Lewis? If he said she was merely ill with a fever, Colonel Lewis would insist that Jack return to work tomorrow to allow her to rest. If Jack told him the extent of Ella’s illness, Colonel Lewis might insist on following protocol and send her to the medic. He didn’t want that. He at least wanted the chance to help her recover. “May I request such days now?”
    Smiling, Colonel Lewis shook his head. “Do you have a good reason to need them?”
    “Yes.”
    Colonel Lewis lifted his eyebrows.
    “She’s not feeling well. She’s sick and I thought it would be best if I tended her until she was better.” He forced a shrug. “This is a new place for her, after all.”
    Colonel Lewis nodded once. “I can understand that, I suppose. Do you think she’ll be well enough tomorrow?”
    “No,” Jack said quickly.
    The colonel’s eyes narrowed on him. “Just how sick is she, boy?”
    “She has a high fever.” He silently prayed that Colonel Lewis wouldn’t insist he take her to the medic to be bled, but it seemed safer than to tell him about the infection in her leg.
    “ Perhaps Mrs. Lewis should look after her, then.”
    “ Allison has been helping me,” Jack informed him.
    “ I see.” Colonel Lewis crossed his arms. “All right. You may have two more days of reprieve. Then, you will report back to your post or take up residence in the stockade.”
    “ Yes, sir.”
    Jack watched his superior walk away. To some, Colonel Lewis’ order might seem heartless, but Jack knew better. Colonel Lewis always tried to be fair even if it meant bending the rules when nobody was looking or suspecting. Jack really had four days to spend with Ella because two days from then would be the routinely scheduled two-day reprieve that all men, save the cooks, who were on a rotating schedule, received.
    A little more hopeful that the time granted him would be adequate,